Centrifugal ring-ingot casting machine



Dec., 3, 1935., L. ADAMS, JR 2,023,040

CENTRIFUGL RING INGOT CASTING MACHINE Dec.. 3, 1935.

J. L. ADAMS, JR

GENTRIFUGAL RING INGOT CASTING MACHINE yFiled. July l5, 1955 1lSheets-Sheet 2 Dec. 3, 1935. J. 1 ADAMS, .1R

v CENTRIFUGAL RING INGOT CASTING MACHINE Filed July l5, 1933 llSheets-Sheei 3 Dec. 3, 1935. .1, 1 ADAMS, JR

CENTRIFUGAL RING INGOT CASTING MACHINE Filed July l5, 1933 llSheets-Sheet 4 IHMPPIJJJWL I I I Il .N @www ENR@ Dec. 3, 1935. J. LADAMS, JR

CENTRIFUGAL RING INGOT CASTING MACHINE Filed July 15, 1953 1.1Sheets-Sheet 5 INVEN TOR.

Dec. 3, 1935. J LAD/ms, JRv 2,023,040

CENTRIFUGAL RING INGOT CASTING MACHINE Filed July l5, 1953 l1ShQetS---Shee'l 5 TA PERED FIG. EZB, I

Dec. 3, 1935.

J. L. ADAMS, JR

CENTRIFUGAL RING INGOT CASTING'MACHINE Filed July l5, 1955 11Sheets-Sheet 7 .lllul lllllllllllllllllll le mm n;

I rllllk H.. Il

INVENTOR.

Dec. 3, 1935..

J. L. ADAMS, JR

CENTRIFUGAL RING INGOT CASTING MACHINE Filed July l5, 1955 11Sheets-Sheet 8 IN V EN TOR.

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De. 3, 1935. 1 ,MDAMS7 JR i 2,023,040

CENTRIFUGAL RING INGOT CASTING MACHINE Filed July l5, 1933 11Sheets-Sheet lO M 17" bor-TR/MM/w l 5TH770N I9 ENTER/NV srAT/oN,

Fm' 40' y INVENTOR.

J. L. ADAMS, JR

CENTRIFUGAL RING INGOT CASTINGMACHINE Dec. 3, 1935.

1l Sheets-Sheet ll Filed July l5, 1933 INVENTOR.

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, H u H Patented Dec.4 3, 1935 UNITED `STATES- PATENT OFFICE 2,023,040cENrmFUGAL ame-moor mismo MACHINE 12 Claims. The present inventionrelates broadly to the art of ingot casting, and more particularly tothe.

high-speed centrifugal casting and jarring of relatively much wideraxially, and thinner radially, than usual, circular metal ingots,together with continued control of the initial cooling and solidicationthereof, in such wise as to give very great compactness to the mass, anduniformity of composition to the metal, with substantially completeabsence of the customary pipes, pockets, and other central orsub-surface cavities, along with substantial elimination of a great partof the usual occluded and trapped gases, and detrimentally locateddentridal crystals, all these improve-V ments leading to the productionof a greater uniformity of both constitution and texture of the metalmass, than is the case in the usual ingot of commerce, Whereconsiderable segregation, or separation-out of the several constituentsof the mix, normally occurs during the initial cooling and solidicationperiod.

My present invention also includes closely coordinated means for quicklyhot-cleaning, or hottrimming lightly, certain surface elements oi theingot, very closely after initial solidication, and,while the metal isstill very plastic, in order to substantially eliminate certain surfaceinclusions, and the better prepare the entire lngot for subsequentbelt-mill rolling, as by my mill covered by co-pending applicationSerial No. 674,661, filed June 7th, 1933.

Some six of the primary objects of the present invention, therefore,consist in the provision of rugged apparatus for the ultra-rapidproduction at loW cost of substantially circular ring-ingots, which are(1st) highly compacted, (2nd) of very uniform composition throughout,(3rd) substantially pipe-less and gas free, (4th) of extra wide and thintype, (5th) of metal which has been repeatedly jarred during itssolidiflcation, and (6th) which are of such form as to be readilywhite-hot brushed, or skim-trimmed by circular, rotating blade cutters,if desired, previous to the rolling operation.

Another important object is to provide apparatus which will giveprogressive solidification from one broad :face of the ingot toward theother,

along its thinnest or radial dimension, and not y from each of the fourmain outside surfaces inward, toward the centre of the section, since inthis latter process the progressive multi-directional shrinkage of themetal as it solidifies and cools, leads directly to the necessaryconcom-` itant formation of interior pockets, flssures, pipes,

and cracks, all contributing numerous causes for waste, and high costsof rolling.

A vital object is to greatly cut these plate and sheet manufacturingcosts, by providing apparatus for the production of a type of ingoteminently 5 suited for use in connection with a high-speed andhigh-capacity, continuous belt-mill, such as that disclosed in myco-pending application previously referred to.

Another essential object is to provide a means 10 for the high-speed,low-cost, quantity production of centrifugally-cast, jarred, and trimmedring-ingots, of ultra-low porosity, and high uniformity of texture andcomposition.

One leading object is to substantially wipe-out 15 the usual 10% to 15%end-crop loss, common to the customary straight types of ingot, and thuscut nal plate costs.

Another object is to greatly cut the usual lnitial solidlcation time, aswell as the length of 20 f the soaking-pit period, by casting in muchthinner sections than has been customary heretofore in ingots forrolling mill use.

A still further object is to provide for the production of a. ringingot, which can be slowly ro- 25 tated on its axis, if desired, duringgas, oil, powdered coal, induction electric, or other heating,

\ so as to make doubly sure of the uniformity of the heatingtherearound.

Another outstanding object is to provide an in- 30 got of such form thatit will require a minimum number of passes in the mill to convert intoplate, or moderately thin sheet, so as to thereby greatly conserve thetotal rolling mill time, increase the tonnage output, and decrease theconversion costs into such products.

One noteworthy object is to so fore-shorten the solidication time, byreducing the maximum section thickness found in the ingot, as tomaterially lower the time allotted for segregation of 40 the materialsof the mix, and also the period allowed for growth of the metalcrystals, thus leading not only to a more general uniformity of thematerial throughout the casting, but to a smaller and more refined grainstructure throughout the ingot, as it leaves the casting unit.

, An added object is to produce a centrifugal casting machine, or unit,in which the casting occurs with a minimum of splashing of the enteringmetal. 5

A supplementary object is to provide means for the production of aningot which can be conveniently hot-trimmed either by high-speedwirebrush meansoperating on the white hot and still slightly plasticmaterial, or by water-cooled roi 2 tary blade trimmers functioning at aslightly later stage in the cooling.

Other worthwhile objects will be obvious to anyone versed in the art towhich this invention appertains. g l

With all these and other objects in view, I have provided an apparatusfor the high-speed centrifugal casting and shaking of axially wide andradially thin ring-ingots, of substantially compactvmetal, and uniformtexture throughout.

It will be noted that my apparatus provides for keeping the interiorbroad face of the ingot liquid, or plastic, as long as may be requiredto assure that the solidiflcation will be progressive fromthe outerperipheral face only, and thence inward through the casting towardcentral axis, and under such centrifugal' and jarring conditions as willassure a maximum of compacting of the metal, but without undulyextending the pelriod of such solidification so as to permit the growthof large crystals in the metal, and extensive segregation of the moreeasily crystallized elements of the initial composite mix.

It will be further `noted that my apparatus provides for the white-hotbrushing, or the light hot-trimming of the interior face of the newlyformed ingot, or for both of these operations in sequence, so as tosubstantially eliminate interior surface inclusions, centrifugallyseparated materials, and excessive thickness variations in spots aroundthe periphery, all of which would be detrimental to final rolledproduct. It is conceivable, however, that such surfacing operations onthe ingot might be dispensed with in some cases, as where utmostcleanliness of metal is non-important, or slight defects in the rolledplate are not material.

In the drawings, Figure 1 shows a plan view of my complete apparatus,except as broken away to illustrate at Figure 1A a portion of myrotating track disc, and as further broken away at Figure 1B to show atypical radial segment of the lower stationary track mounted uponconcrete or other base, in a shallow pit below.

'I'he approximate position of the various operating stations areindicated hereon. it being noted, however, that the hot-'brushingstation will usually be located one or two positions further to theleft, and the stripping station a-little higher up on the right, so asto provide a little more distance to the pouring station in each case.

Figure 2 is a vertical section taken on line II-II of Figure l, lookingwith the arrows, except as partly broken away, and shows the ultrasimplicity of the method of drive utilized `for the centrifugal action,this drive being common to all of the 30 moulds shown on previousligure.

Figure 3 is an enlargement of section III-III of Figure 1, to betterbring out some of the features of construction, and is also a plan view.

Figure 4 is, similarly, an enlargement of Figure 2, and indicates thelines on which Figures la and la, above, are taken, looking with thearrows.

Figure 5 is a plan view, enlarged, of the segment V-V of Figure 1,covering the pouring station.

Figure 6 is an elevation of the scale-beam element shown at top ofFigure 5, taken as per line V12-VI, and looking in the direction of thearrows. In actual practice, of course, this scalebeam would be locatedvery considerably farther away from the hot-metal ladle than is hereshown,

and with appropriatehot-metal protection therebetween. l i

Figure 7 is an elevation and partial section of 1/z-sections,respectively,

the apparatus shown on Figure 5, taken about on the line VII-VII oflatter figure, again looking with the arrows.

Figure 8 is a part section of pouring-cone, taken on the line VIII-VIIIof Figure 7, looking with 5 the arrows, but somewhat enlarged to vshowthe ribs more clearly.

Figures 9 and l0 show in succession the roller mounting means providedfor pouring-cone support, and successive sectionsy of said pouringcone,taken on the appropriately numbered lines of Figure '7, again lookingwith the arrows.

Figure 11 illustrates an enlarged plan view, partly in section, of thehot-brushing station elements positioned at about XI--XI, or somewhat 15further to the left, in Figure 1, along the positioning raifindicated.

Figure 12 shows this hot-brushing station in partial elevationA and partsection, about as per line XII-XII Iof Figure 11, again with the arows.20

Figure 13 is a partial section of the parts of Figure 11, as per lineXIII-XIII thereon. Figure 14 is a partial elevation, showing certainelements of Figure 12, as taken from line XIV-XIV on this latter figure,and with con- 25 necting-rodin section.

Figure 15 is an enlargement of hot-trimming station apparatus, in planview, and covering certain elements shown at about the position XV-XVaround the circle of Figure 1, but with 30 the casting mould removed,and one trimmer sho-wn in section.

Figure 16 is a vertical section, shown partially in elevation, of theparts of Figure 15, taken on the line XVI-XVI of latter, more or less,but 35 with casting mould and contained ring-ingot added in order toshow the relation of the parts. The screw-down section is taken, perforce, a little nearer the vertical axis.

Figure 17 is a section of casting mould, with 40 its contained ingot,taken on line XVII-XVII of Figure 16, with the arrows.

Figure 18 is a partsection and part elevation of the trimmer mechanism,taken on the appropriately numbered line of Figure 16. i5

Figure 19 is a section of trimmer-head-adjusting drive only, per lineXIX-XIX of Figure 16. This adjustment is necessary to take care ofslightly coned ingots.

Figure 20 is a transverse vertical cross-section 50 cn line XX-XX ofFigure 16, while Figures 21 and 22 are further transversecross-sectional views of trimmer parts, as per the appropriatelynumbered arrows on Figure 16.

Figure 23 is an enlargement, likewise in sec- 55 tion, of parts near theXXII-Xm line on Figure 16, but looking in same direction as latter gure,while Figures 24 and 25`- show the appropriately marked sections takenon the lines indicated in 60 Figure 23, with the arrows. A

Figure 26, on next sheet of drawings, illustrates an enlarged plan viewof the apparatus forming the step-by-step indexing station. as indicatedat XXVI-XXVI position, and external to the largest circle of Figure 1,the later figure showing, however, certain of the casting wheel partswhich were broken away in Figure 1, and in. addition appropriateconnections for the driving motor, including necessary contactors andlimit switches designed to give the step-by-step motion required,although other equivalent means for accomplishing this result mighteasily be cited.

Figures 27A and 27a illustrate top and bottom of a casting mould topositions.

produce slightly tapered, and parallel sided ringi'ngots, respectively,these mould sections being in general similar to such parts as shown onFigures 11 and i2, but considerably enlarged, and taken-axially of theingot.

` The mould-head `proportions shown in the earlier figures indicatepreferred constructions, however, the later figures being foreshortenedherer due to space limitations. Figure 27B also shows a portion of thetrackway, and its supporting driven disc, as Well as a limit outline, indotted lines, of the ingot-jarring cam, below and to the left, adjacentthe section of track.

Figure 28 shows an enlarged plan view of ingotstripping station, asindicated at about the position XXVIII-XXVIII on Figure 1, but withingot receiving parts of ingot-carriage, such as that disclosed in myco-pending application Serial No. 652,142, f'lled January 17th,1933,'for example, shown in dotted outline to the left.

Figure 29 is a vertical section of this ingotstripping--apparatus, takenon the axis of Figure 28, and again looking with the arrows'.

Figure 30 is an end `elevation of certain ingotstripper parts of Figure29, as y'identified by the line XXX-XXX and arrows, on latter figure.

Figure 31 is a similar left end elevation, taken further to the left, asper line XXXI-XXXI and arrows, and shows the action of, ingot-lifting,

rig on ingot-carriage, in dotted outlines, and as already referred to inconnection with Figure 28.

Figure 32 shows in` section the ingot-stripper drive, for starting thetapered ingot from the mould, while the latter is still, or is underfullspeed rotation, and shifting it over to the dotted outline positionwithin the mould, as shown in Figure 29, on which figure the line ofsection XXXII-XXXII is indicated also.

Figure 33 is a section of stripper arms taken on line XXXIII-HXIII ofFigure 29.

Figure 34, on succeeding sheet of drawings, illustrates in plan view acomplete casting room and rolling mill assembly utilizing my improvedcentrifugal casting unit, and also indicating below, two of my circularingot heating, or temperature equalizing furnaces, as disclosed inco-pending application, Serial No. 655,185, led February 4th, 1933.

Figure 35 shows in elevation certain ingot-jarring elements taken fromFigure 7, so as to illustrate them in proper relation to the succeedingfigure.

Figure 36 shows in section these ingot-jarring devices, and also, inmore detail than heretofore, a cross section of a preferred form ofingot mould, all taken on the broken line XXXVI- XXXVI of Figure 35, inthe direction of the arrows.

Figure 37 indicates a horizontal section and part plan View, taken onthe line XXXVII-XXVII of Figure 35, and showing the means provided foreccentric bushing adjustment, whereby the amount of jarring at thisstation is controlled, or eliminated entirely, as desired. It will beunderstood that as many of these jar-control stations as required, willbe installed in succession, up to the point of final ingot solidicationonly, and that the casting-wheel indexing rig will stop the wheelsuccessively upon these jarring station It will be further noted thatthe gradual rise o f the ingot mould is taken care of by these liftingwheels, but that the impact from the drop of said mould is taken by themoving track and disc-wheel, and not by the relatively light bearings ofthe lifting rig, since on its drop the mould clears thelatter slightly.If 'the lifting wheel is thrown down by moving the eccentric bushing inwhich it is mounted, the lifting cam on rotating mould will be entirelycleared, so that no more jarring occurs.

' Figure 38 shows in plan an alternative form of centrifugal casting andjarring unit, Figure 38A a segment of the rotating disc, and Figure 38Bthe underlying stationary track thereof, the various station positionsbeing indicated as before.

Figure 39 is 'a vertical section, taken on the broken line XXXIX- XXXIXof Figure 38, showing this reduce'd size casting wheel, in which therotation of ingot is maintained only through the solidlflcation period,and not all through the period of cooling, as was done in the machinefirst shown and described.

Figure 40 is a plan view of the second-stage wheel, and Figure 40A ofits stationary track below, to which the justvsolidiedingot istransferred from that shown on Figure 38, as soon as solidification hasoccurred, the cooling thenceforth occurring without concomitantrotation, except that the wheel of Figure 40 slightly rotates each mouldas it advances between index positions, and operating stations.

Figure 41 is a vertical section taken on line XLI-)ULI of Figure 40,with ,the arrows.

'Figure 42 shows in plan-view a complete centrifugai casting unit, withfurnace and mill assembly, for use with the alternative type ofcasting-wheel shown on Figure 38 and succeeding figures.

As the various transfer-arms for handling the ningots between thecasting-wheel stages, and into and out offurnaces, form no part of thepresent invention directly, except as they go to make up a completeassembly, operative as a whole, such transfers are not shown in detailherein, reference being made to my co-pending application 0n Ingottransfer arms, Serial #680,967, led July 18th, 1933.

In Figures l, 26, 38, and 40 it was not considered necessary to showevery ingot mould in place and complete in detail, it being understoodthat all intermediate stations are occupied by moulds complete in everydetail, as indicated at one or more positions on each figure.

Directions oi' motion are indicated by arrows throughout the variousfigures, forward and return motions being indicated by solid and brokenarrows side by side, respectively.

In all the figures, indentical parts are indicated always by the samepart numbers.

Referring now more particularly to Figure 1, a well bracedindexing-wheel is indicated at I. centred for rotation on the heavyking-pin 2, suitably bolted 'to base below, and providing means for thestep-by-step advance of a mul- Y tiplicity of ring-ingot moulds 3, heldfore-andaft between rollers 4 and 5, and each provided with a groovedring 6, and fiat ring 1 to run on tracks 8, 9 below, as per Figure 1A,these tracks being in turn mounted upon the heavy plate disc I0,provided underneath with the large diameter driving gear II, and alsomounted upon the king-pin 2, and carried by wheels which will' be late renumerated'upon the single stationary track I2, shown on the stationarybase I3 of Figure 1B. Again referringt Figure 1 a pouring station isindicated at I4, solidifying stations next to the left at I5, anadjustable hot-brushing station at I6, mounted for angular adjustment asrequired upon the circular track I'I, extending along the coolingstations I8, to and through the similarly adjustable hot-trimmingstation I9, be-

yond which is the step-by-step indexing station 20, followed by thestripping station 2l, and a plurality of mould inspection stations 22,before again reaching the pouring position. An ingot-car track is shownVat 2l, adjoining the stripping station 2I.

Turning toFigure 2, new parts not previously identified appear at baseof king-pin 2 where the heavy mounting base 24 is bolted to foundationI3, at 25 which is a long bushing carrying wheel I through the ultraheavy roller bear-ings 26, well spaced apart vertically, the upper ofwhich helps to stabilize the large diameter indexing-wheel I, by meansof a plurality of rods 21, passing through the turnbuckles 28, attachedsubstantially as shown tol parts I and 25 respectively. Lower rotatingwheel III'is mounted at its hub upon the ultra heavy roller bearings 28,servingI to centre the rotating element, while its weight, as well asthatV of the rotating ingot moulds 3, is carried by a plurality of heavywheels 30 of high-grade alloy steel, mounted via heavy roller-bearingsupon the cross-I-beams 3|, midway between points of attachment thereofto the rib-beams 32, of wheel III, so that such wheels 36 will have somemeasure of elasticity in their mounting, to readily absorb the repeatedshocks of the jarring of the moulds, the means for accomplishing whichwill be described later. A suitable driving motor, preferably of thevariable speed type,y is shown at 33, meshing via the usual spur-pinionwith gear II, while a raised retaining wall is indicated at 34, toprotect motor from any chance of contact with spilled hot metal, asafety trough for the reception of which is further provided at 35, thisbeing normally divided into short sections by suitable brick partitionsso as to break up any spilled metal masses into short sections. Thenormal floor-level of large stationary ladle 43, mounted on heavytrunnions 44, carried by the supporting block 45,

and provided with the customary worm-wheel for angular adjustment of thepour (not shown), all supported by thepiers 46, on the scale platform41, mounted within the pit 48, and -connecting through a series ofknife-edge supported scale-levers 49, eventually leading to the downwardpull rod 58, applied to one end of the oompound scaleb'eam 5I, bearingthe large pointer weight 52 on one arm, and the smaller pointer weight53 on the other arm, the throw of I3 being limited by the adjustablestop 54, while the customary assorted weights 55 are provided forpreliminary rough adjustment to the weight of ladle and its burden.

A carbon or graphite valve for the hot metal is indicated at 56,liftable by the slide-rod 51, or other convenient means. a second valveand lift-rod being indicated in tandem to the first, for safety. Bothare readily replaceable when ladle is emptied. The hand levers foroperating 51 will be of customary type, (not shown).

The hot metal. stream enters the beveled open small end 5l, of thecast-iron pouring cone 58, containing the heavy ribs 60 adapted to aidin accelerating the incomingymetal, without ina--A terial splash, beforeit enters the mould 3 as a thin sheet running at about the velocity ofrotation of the mould, so as to avoid material spattering during thefill. Cone 59 is rotatably carried by the rollers 6I, in turn rotatablymounted within the two housings 62 of slightly diierent diameters,carried by base 63, slidably mounted upon the rails 84, on which it maybe shifted by the eccentrics 65, on the turn shaft 66, driven throughappropriate reduction gearing as shown, by the motor 61, with suitablelimit switches of usual type to determine the halfrevolution motions of66, required to enter the safety guard-housing 68, over projecting rim66 of mould 3, and avoid any possible throwing out of molten metalduring the pouring, 68 being made split to permit ready removal of anywaste metal, should spillages occur. Suitable spillage protection plateswill be provided under entrance to cone.

A suitable shoulder on cone 59 supports the spur-gear 10, appropriatelykeyed thereto, driven by pinion 1I, keyed on shaft 12, shown underneaththe pouring opening in Figure 7, for clearness, but in reality vfell toone side thereof, as better indicated in Figure 5 above, thisshaft'being geared through the mitre pinion 13, 14, to shaft 15, drivenby motor 16, mounted upon extension 11 of the sliding base 63. Or motor16 may be turned at right angles from position from, if preferred, inorder to obviate thevuse of mitre gears. Mould 3A carries at its leftend a non-circularand gradually spiralled cam surface 18, engaging, whendesired, with a lifting roll 19, rotatably mounted directly underneath,at certain of the index stations, and more fully described in connectionwith a later figure. At the pouring station, suitable provision would ofcourse be made for protection of operators and all moving parts from anypossible leakage metal, in line with usual practice here.

In Figures 11 through 14, inclusive, showing a white-hot-metal ingotinternal brushingstation,as per number I6ofFigure1,there are found newparts includlng the very sti ,heavy wire brush88,with its hub mountedupon shaft of variable speed motor 8 I, bolted directly upon projectingarrnA 82, enterable within the hot ring-ingot 83, and in turn bolted tothe slide 84, carried upon sliding-base 8E to heavy shaft 81, mountedwithin the bearing- Vshowmand cone 53 driven direct by chain thereblocks88, andl driven through the worm-wheel or 55 gear reductions 88, by themotor 98.

Crank-arm 8,6 is provided with a series o f pinholes 8i,` determiningthe throw, and through one of which theconnecting rod 92 is-rotatablypinned thereto, the other end of this connecting-rod being plvotallymounted upon appropriate pin in the bracket 83, bolted solidly to base85, arm 86 being equipped with the usual limit switches, (not shown), todetermine half-revolution motion, under inter-lock control, wherebyentrance into interior of ingot is prevented until mould 3 comes to astandstill in its progression, although under full rotation still, aboutits axis, said interlocks being similar in type to the one shown on theleft in Figure 26, to follow, and so connected that brush must beretracted again completely out of ingot, before wheel I can beprogressed further by the motor of Figure 26, all this by means wellknown in the art, and therefore not shown on present drawings.

In Figures 15 through 25, I have shown a hotingot trimmer mechanism I 9,also insertable within, and retractable froml a yellow-hot ring-ingot,under appropriate interlock control similar to that just mentioned, toprevent interferences between moving parts, and in which figures thecircular trimmer-blades are indicated at 94, mounted on shafts 95,carried in the adjustable eccentric bushings 96, each capable of angularmovement for adjusting purposes within the housing 91, by means of aworm-wheel at one end, engaging with the worm 98, on same shaft with thespiral gear 99.

In order to pretty well balance the trimming thrusts transmitted back toframe, three of the above cutting blades 94, and associated parts downto 99, have been shown in my preferred trimmer construction, andangularly spaced about a common adjusting gear |00, as'particularlybrought out in Figure 19, on this sheet.

As per Figure 16, this central gear is shown mounted upon the hollowshaft I 0I, attached at its left end to the enlarged portion |02, bothrotatable within the large hollow shaft |03, with |02 slidable over thespecial hollow shaft |04, rotatable therewith, in the thrustball-bearing at left, which is mounted at centre of housing I06, withinwhich the shaft-housing |01 makes a sliding it, under the operation oflong rack |08 attached thereto, meshing with pinion |09, keyed to shaftIIO, which, as shown in Figure 21, is driven by worm-wheel I I I, andworm II2, on shaft of motor II3. Reverting to Figure 16, the heavyprojecting shaft |03 is indicated as mountedin the heavy thrust andradial, ball or roller bearing II4, and in the heavy radial typeroller-bearing II5, the end of |03 being bolted solidly to the cutterhousing casting -91,`before mentioned, while back of bearing II5, shaft|03 is keyed to the large herringbone gear II6, meshing with pinion |I1,on shaft lof motor I I8, of the variable speed type, and mounted upon afiat in the shaft-housing |01, to which it is bolted. The relativecross-sectional shapes of housings |06 and |01 at the herringbone gearposition is indicated by Figure 20, while Figures 21 and 22 show theconditions further to left.

Figure 23, which is simply an enlargement of the parts shown near theXXII-XXII section line of Figure 16, shows to better advantage howspecial shaft |04 is longitudinally drilled at II9, and provided with alongitudinal full length spline key-way |20 on one side, and acontinuous spiral a shoulder-key |22, fitted in the screwed cap |23,being slidably fitted in |20, while a spiral hardened steel key |24 isset in the cap I 25, screwed and locked into place on the left side ofthrust shoulder |26, on end of hollow-shaft |02, this spiral key beingmade an easy sliding fit in |2I, and over |04. Caps |23 and |25 will belocked in place by customary means, as by longitudinally .drilledbolt-type keys, (not shown).

It will be self-evident that normal plain rotation of shafts |02, |03,and |04 together, produces no relative motion oi' |02, but that anysliding of |03 and its attached cutter-head 91 longitudinally, as bymeans of the rack |08, and pinion I 09, will result in a slightrotational movement of shaft |02, and with it the spiral or other gear|00 at right, `whereby the series of gears and worms 99, 98, and theeccentric bushings 96 will be rotated somewhat. radially shifting thecutterblades 94, with respect to the axis of rotation of shaft |03, thisshift being made just equal to the required taper or draft of the insidebore of ingot, necessitated by the outside draft, incorporated togreatly facilitate the subsequent stripping of the ingot.

It will also be obvious that other means might be devised foraccomplishing in effect this taper cutting, or that ingot strippingmeans might be 5 designed whichwould require no taper to the. ingot,thus greatly simplifying the cutter mechanism under present discussion,so that I do not wish to preclude the inclusion of such simplifiedtrimmer mechanism, although I have shown one le preferred constructiononly.

It will be observed that the drilled opening in shaft |04 connects atleft, through the slipjoint coupling |21, with a suitable source of airunder pressure, which is thence transmitted through shafts I 0| and |02,the interior of closed cutter-housing 91, and the bent tubes |28,indicated at right end of Figure 16, to a point close to the cuttingedge of cutters 94, so as to aid in the ejection from the mould of theborings produced, and prevent'their getting imbedded in the face of thework by the further moti n of cutter.

If desired, a tube may be run thr ugh centre of bore |04, to supplycooling water to blades.

Note that these cutter-blades 94 areset at an 25 angle to the line ofrotational travel of the work 63, so that the cutters are self-rotating,the ballbearings provided for the latter being of a type that will takethrust as well as heavy radial loads, as well known in the art. Thefunction of the large motor II8 is, therefore, not to propel the cuttersagainst the face of the work and against the travel of the latter, butwith the direction of travel of the work,'at a speed somewhat less Athanthe latter is moving under the urge of the centrifugal castingwheelmotor 33, and thus bringing the cutting velocity of the circular cuttingblades down to a reasonable value for such an operation,I although it ispossible that further experience with this machine might in- 40 dicatethat motor IIB might be dispensed with,

'and I do not wish to preclude the use of such a simplified constructionof trimmer.

" Suitable rails I1, of same gauge 4spacing as those used forhot-brushing rig I6, permit the peripheral adjustment of hot-trimmerstation I9 around wheel I, as required.

Referring now to Figures 15 to 18, inclusive, freely rotatable pressurewheels |29 are shown in these four figures, being mounted upon heavyshafts |30, in appropriate anti-friction bearings, preferably of rollertype, in thebearing-blocks I3|, projecting downward from the cross-arm I32, having the long side extension arms |33 attached thereto, andmounted rotatably upon the common dead shaft |34, extending throughupright wings |35, attached to the general base housing |06, which wings|35 also carry the worm-wheel |36, and its driving motor |31, operatingthrough worm- |38, and functioning the heavy screw-down mechanism |39,attached by suitable thrust collar to the cross-arm |32, and alloperable to apply pressure to grooved ring 6, of mould 3, to steady thelatter during trimming, and to develop greater rotating traction uponthe driven rail 8 below, during this operation.

Possibly this supplementary mechanism might be dispensed with, however,although I have deemed it advisable to show it in my preferredconstruction of parts. It is even possible that hot-brushing station I6might in some cases be found suilcient to put the hot ring casting inproper condition for subsequent use, without utilizing hot-trim stationI9 at al1, and such adis- 75 heavy contactor position is included withinthe scope of the present invention, and the appended claims.

. Figures 24 and 25 supplement Figures 23, and are self-explanatory.when taken in connection with the explanation given of the latter.

Referring now to Figure 26, one or any plurality of moulds 3, up to thecapacity of wheel I, is to be advanced step-by-step through one angularspace |40 at a time, by the indexing mechanism 20, comprising theultra-heavy linkchain I4 I, adapted to fit over the projecting teeth 42,of wheel I, and carried around the idlersprocket |43, and the .similarheavy drivensprocket |44, driven by the appropriate reduction gearing|45, operated through suitable worm or equivalent pinion on motor |45,preferably of the variable-speed, shunt-wound, direct-current type,whose shunt winding is indicated at |41, on the annexed wiring diagram,and connected through the largeresistance |48, and the lead |49,`directly to the two supply lines |50 and |5|, provision forshort-circuiting said resistance |48 being supplied by the heavycontact-points |52, one of which connects via conductor |58 to one endof the resistance mentioned, while the other contact-point connectsthrough the swivel-arm |54, pivotally mounted upon the support |55, and

thence through the lead |56 to remaining end of resistance |48.Swivel-arm |54 carries the freely rotatable rollers |51, |68, and |59,all preferably of Bakelite or similarhighly-insulating material, thelatter of which fits the two side-by-side depressions in the bent spring|50, used to retain arm |54 positively in either of its two throwpositions, determined by contact of rolls |51 and |58, successively,with the proiecting teeth 42, of wheel I.

Conductors |49 and |56 also supply through support |55, the necessarycurrent for contacts I6I, of the normally closed type, carried by theswivel-arm |62, held in closed position by the spring |63, the outercontact of |6| being connected via lead |64, to the shunt coil |65 of|56, which functions in the direction indicated by small arrow, andagainst the action of suitable return-spring, (not shown), to close theheavy contacts |61, determining current flow through armature circuit ofmotor |45, and the series connected electric-brake release coil |68, ofspring-gripped brake |59. A

Coil |65 being connected through lead |10 to supply vline |50, it willbe noted that it receives current except when arm |62 is depressed, bycontact of its roll |1| with a tooth 42 on wheel I,

which results in opening contacts. I6I, and |51,

and the stopping of motor |45 instanter, the speed of latter having justbefore been reduced to about 1/4 normal value by the depression ofroller |58 by the tooth 42 next following, and thus short-circuiting thelarge resistance |48, in shunt-field circuit of motor |45.

Wheel stops with arm |62 held depressed, and with next succeeding tooth42 lying Just midway between rolls |51 and |58, of arm |54, roll |58being down, as just previously noted. Motor |46 can not again start up,until operator closes switch |12 momentarily, energizing coilv |55through the connection |13, starting up said motor slowly and movingthetooth 42 away from contact with roll |1I, so that contact |5| closes,maintaining the circuit through coil |55 after' appropriatespring-return (not shown) on switch |12, has opened up the latter. Amoment later,

- the next succeeding tooth 42, on wheelrl, which slowing down motorroll |51 and depresses it, as is shown in thisfigure, throwing over arm|54 to its open-contact position, inserting the resistance |48 intoshunt-field coil circuit |41, and speedingup the motor |46 to normalrunning value, where it remains until 5 next succeeding tooth 42 hitsroll |58, closes contacts |52 again, short-circuiting resistance |48,|46, after which roll |1| again contacts with a tooth 42, and the wheelI. stops promptly, supplemen .try electric brakes to 10 assure thisbeing added, if required, (but not shown).

Other means for accomplishing the above sequence of operations will beobvious.

It will be observed that wheel simply advances the moulds 3step-by-step, but has nothing to do with their rotation o n their ownaxes, which is done by motor 35.

Turning now to Figures 27A and 27B, which, being in much larger scale,than heretofore, show to 20 better advantage one preferred form ofcasting mould 8, it will be noted that former figure refers to' a mouldfor casting somewhat tapered or coned. ring-ingots, while the lattergure covers a mould for ingot with parallel faces. 25

In spite of the greater diiilculty of its centrifugal production, thetapered form of ingot is believed to be preferable, because of decreasedstripping dimculties encountered in that case. Since for proper rolling,the thickness of ingot wall 30 should, if anything, be proportionatelythicker on the smaller diameter end of ingot, it is found that theproduction of tapered ingots points to the mounting of entire castingwheel l and associated rotating disc I0, on a slight angle down- 35 wardfrom the pouring position. This is not shown on drawings, but isbelieved to be entirely within limits of practical construction andhence advisable@ In these two figures, I have indicated my pre- 40ferred mould 8 as having a high-tensile steel plate shell with spacedperipheral ribs |14 slightly projecting therefrom, as at themultiplicity of points indicated, while more or less similar, butoutwardly projecting, and intermediately positioned 45 ribs |15 areplaced upon the exterior of cast-iron ingot-mould proper |16, on theinterior of which an ingot is shown in casting position, while betweenribs |14 and |15, I have placed a great multiplicity of steel rods |11,to give powerful 50 support to mould proper |15, but a little elasticityto accommodate some thermal expansion therein, without breakage.

'I'his part of the construction is perhaps better indicated in Figure 36following, where a section 55 transverse to axis is shown. It will benoted that all these construction items-greatly limit the opportunitiesfor heat transfer from mould proper to the outer steel plate shell, andthat ring 6 is also in contact with shell 8 over very limited 60 areasonly, preventing any very pronounced overcooling at the position of therail 8, all this with the idea of getting th'e'maximum possible amountof temperature uniformity in the ingot as it leaves the mould, andthereby greatly reducing the time 65 required later on in thesoaking-pit, or temperature equalizing furnace, or other heating meansutilized before rolling. l

Reverting to Figures 27A and 27a, these grooves under ring 5, are shownat |18, the welded-on, or otherwise attached ribbed-rim of mould at 68.and the shaker cam-face at 18, the latter being profiled around theperimeter as desired, for either one, or a plurality of dro s by mould,per revolution. Al spring retaining-r ng |18, having 75 a split at oneportion of its periphery, is shown at |19, with a multiple retainingring of thin steel strips |80 to make direct contact with the hot ingot,and thus avoid much heat loss here. Two or three of these thin ringswill undoubtedly be lost with each pouring, but the multiplicity oflayers and many thin films present should lead to low heat transfer atthis point, thus holding up the ingot temperature at one of its vitalpoints. Similar rings |8| are placed at opposite ends of the casting,against the ingot-stripper piston |82, located just inside the mouldhead |03, mounted solidly on shell 3, by means of the flanged andwelded-on ring |84, attached to head |83 by the slot-bolts |85, and theoutwardly driven wedges |88, or equivalent means. Stripper piston |82 isthreaded upon, or otherwise solidly attached to the stripping-pin 31,slidingly mounted within flange 38, and the turned neck '|81 providedfor the tracking of rolls 5, heretofore shown. I

It is again noted, however, that the preferred form of piston |82, andof head |83, will be as indicated in Figures 11 and 12, so as to be ableto accommodate such a brushing-rig, if desired. In ejection of theingot, 31 and |82 will be moved over to the left, more or less towardthe dotted line position 31'-|82, usually far less than the amountindicated here, however, especially if` tapered ingot is used.

Referring now to Figures 28 to 38, inclusive, covering ingot-stripper2|, new parts comprise the bent supporting columns |88, so mounted as toentirely clear the emergentingot, and welded to the webbing of steelplate |89, carrying the stripper-housing and gear casing |90, providedwith the strong projecting arms |9|, adapted to engage back face ofmould stripper-flange 38, but

well beveled as required, at points of entrance thereupon, and arrangedto normally clear the latter by 1/2 or more, except during the actualstripping process.

Mounted upon above housing |90, is the variable speed motor |92,preferably of the series type, so as to be capable of tremendousmomentary torques, and driving through the appropriate heavyreduction-gear train |93, the large, rollerbearing mounted, combinedgear and thrust-nut |94, mounted upon the coarse thread thrustscrew |95,carrying at its left end the heavy, horizontally guided, non-rotatingfork/ |96, arranged for very easy entrance over head of stripper-pin 31,of each successive mould 3, appropriate edges of fork |93` being wellbeveled to promote such entrance,with a normal clearance all around ofpossibly lz'g, when not in actual stripping operation. In some cases themould 3 will be lifted clear of the rails 8 and 9, and stopped fromrotation, by apparatus extraneous to the present application, but asroughly indicated in outline in Figure 42, following, before thestripping operation is encountered, and the stripper-arms 9|,

land fork |98, are here shown for that type of operation. But in othercases, as was indicated,

`for example, in Figures 1 and 34, it may be desired to leave the mouldin full rotation clear up to and through the stripping, in which casethe head of stripper-pin 31, and the back face of flange 38 must engagethe respective stripper parts |96 and |9| through appropriate roller orball thrust-bearings, of which that on |96 will be of standard type, andthe others special, but since these elements do not enter into mypresent claims, they are not elaborated upon further here.

Or screw |95 and head |98 may in this case be made to rotate with themould, at the same velocity of rotation, and out of a stationary nut,thus avoiding thrust bearing complications, if preferred. In eithercase, screw |95 is operated to the left until stripper piston |82 iscarried 5 sumcientlyfar to start the ingot, and bring it in contact withthe power-driven, angularly positioned feed rolls |91, which are wellbeveled off on the ingot entering side, to make sure that ingot willride up on them readily, these rolls 10 being purposely set just alittle above projected line of interior surface of mould, in order tovery slightly urge the ingot up with each half revolution thereof, andthus cause it to work itself loose positively at the opposite end, whilethe rolls |91 and |98 give it a constant urge to workover to the left,and eventually onto the receiving rolls |99, mounted upon suitable base200, and against thestop`| at the left, which is easily positioned vasrequired, but difficult to show, 20 due to space limitations on thesheet.

Feed-rolls |91 and |98 are driven through appropriate bevel-gearing 202,by the shaft 203, carried upon suitable bearing-blocks, and driven,either directly or through appropriate reductiongearing, by thepreferably series-type directcurrent motor 204, suitably carried bybracket from column |88, of the frame, as shown.

It will be noted from Figure that shaft 203 is set with a considerabledownward slope toward 30 removal side of ingot, to allow left hand rolls91, |93, and also |99 to be low, and thus permit wheel to be advanced incase any ingot should stick in the mould, or after partial ejectiontherefrom.

Il mould is non-rotating during stripping, rolls |91, |98, and 99 may beco-axial with mould.

All parts of the stripper, including the columns |88, are designed withthis sticking contingency in mind, so as to not hold up the castingprocess, the stuck ingot and mould being simply carried on for one ortwo steps further around wheel and then lifted of! bodily, by crane, forfurther attention on the floor, while a spare mould is inserted in theirplace in wheel without a moi5 ments hesitation in the regular castingprocedure elsewhere having occurred. For similar reasons, the rolls |99are put o n a slope also, these., rolls, which may sometimes bepower-driven also, if desired, being used to carry the ring-ingot 83 50after it has been withdrawn from mould to its 83 position, ready for theentrance therein under of the ingot-support arms 205,'and ingot-liftarms 206, of ingot-carriage 201, indicated in Figures 28, 29, and 3l,inl broken outline. On raising lift 55 arms 206 to their top, or 200'position, ingot 83' is carried up to 83", as shown in dotted outline, inFigure 31, where it clears the rolls |99, and carriage 201 is ready todepart. If desired, rolls |99, and their base 200, may now be depressed,by j any suitable lifting and lowering means, such as the hydraulicplunger 200a shown, to permit ingot-carriage to leave in eitherdirection required, along track 23.

Reverting to Figure 29 for a moment, I have 65 shown on the right anormally closed set of contacts 208, for connection in series withshuntcoil on one throw of the double-throw contacter (not shown),supplying vmotor |92, said contacts 208 being opened up by contact withright-hand end of screw |95 on its return, to prevent overrunning of thelatter, with consequent jamming. As the left-hand motion of screw |95 isunder the control of an entirely separate shunt-coil on the other throwof contactar, the\ opening of 208 does not preventmotion of said screwto the left, however, as soon as may be required thereafter, and ifdesired, such travel to left may be similarly protectedvby a similar setof limit contacts (not I Il under full rotation, stop 54, of Figure 6,will be set and locked at the ingot weight desired, indexweight 53shoved over against it, and scale weights 55 and G2 adjusted to justbalance the ladle 43 and its burden of metal, after which weight 53 isthrown clear to the right and left there, as shown, and motor 1B, ofFigure 5, is used to bring pouring-cone 59 up to speed, while motor 61is functioned far enough to throw said cone to. its extreme rightposition, as shown in Figure '1, and stopped there, following which rod51, and its attached valve 58, are lifted to start the pour, this latterbeing continued until balance lever 5I, of Figure 6, begins to rise,thus indicating that precisely the proper amount of molten metal byweight, has been poured off, when 58 is instantly closed by means of rod51, operated by hand, motor, or other convenient means located upon thescale platform, so as not to affect the weighing operation. Motor 61 isnow functioned to carry shaft 86 through another V2 revolution, andstopped, after which wheel I is indexed around one step, by theproperfunctioning of parts at station 20, as shown in Figure 26, bringing anew mould into position for a. pour, which is proceeded with after a newre-weighing is accomplished, just as before.

Brushing station I8, as more particularly shown in Figures 11 and 12,having been set a sufilcient distance angularly around the wheel I, toallow for solidiflcation of the ingot, and exactly at an index stopposition, this powerful wire brush 88, running at full motor speed, isrun slowly into and then back out of the ingot 83, while a new pour isunder way, and sofas to be in the clear before. such pour is completed.A little further around the'wheel I, the hot-trimmer I9, as per Figure16, is similarly run in and then out again, over the somewhat cooler,but still bright hot metal, provided such added trimming is necessaryfor the work under way. A

` Eventually the stripper station 2I, as per Figures 28 and 29, isreached, and ingot 83 ejected onto rolls |99, ready for entry ofingot-carriage 291, by which it is usually delivered either to one ofthe heating furnaces 209 or 2I0, via transferarm 2li shown,vor to ingotstorage tracks 2I2, 1 via the cross-transfer table 2I3, and, if desired,

the same car 281 may be used to deliver the ingots from furnace to mill2I4, after proper soaking period.

If white hot ingots can always becounted'upon, direct from the castingwheel, then one heat- -equalizing furnace might be sufficient, butusually provision has to be made for taking an occasional ingot outofthe storage pile, and therefore cold.l

and thus requiring more heating to prepare for rolling, so that the twostage furnace meets the requirement of a steady flow of hot ingots tomill, to better advantage.

As indicated by the break line 2I5, the usual distance from furnace tomill had to be foreshortened inl thisfigure. Straight ingots, or cut 5slabs, enter the mill 2I4 via entering live-roll table 2II, and thestraight ingot-car track 23', using same ingot-carriage 201 as before.Ladle 43 is brought over from the open-hearth, or other furnaces 2I1 byusual hot-metal crane, (not 10 shown).

Referring now to Figures 35 to 31,', inclusive, the means 18, 19, foraccomplishing the jarring of the ingot, concomitantly with thecentrifugal casting and solidiilcation thereof, can be 15 better shownthan in Figure '1, where other things were under particular discussion,it being understood, however, that the cam surface 18, shown with asingle rise and fall per revolution, may include a multiplicity thereofin some cases, if so desired. In these figures, the demou table, hardalloy-steel ring 19, is carried upon th very heavy and freely rotatableshaft 2I8, mounted upon the very heavy roller bearing 2I9, and thesomewhat lighter similar bearing 220, in turn mounted within the heavyeccentric bushing 22|, rotatably mounted within the steel housing 222,and capable of angular adjustment therein, by means of the heavy spurgear 223, keyed to bushing 22 I, and mounted concentric with outer face80 of latter, this gear being driven b'y pinion 224, mounted upon andkeyed `to same shaft as wormwheel 225, in turn functionable by anappropriate worm, on shaft of suitable motor226, or other equivalentoperative means. One of these mould lifting rigs will be placed onmid-line of each of the ilrst 8 or 10 steps of wheel I', out of thecasting position, and including the latter, each being so mounted as tobe rotated by the flange 18 constituting the lifting cam of thesuccessive moulds 40 83, but at such a height that whenfully raised, asis shown in Figure 36, the lesser radius elements of cam will clear thewheel 19 by 5/8" or so, so that the impact of the fail will be( taken bythe heavy track 8, on disc III, and not by the less sturdy bearings2I9and 229, not so well adapted to take the continual hammering. Atpoints reached after solidiilcatlon of=ingot has occurred, and where nofurther shaking of the latter is necessary, or desired, all theeccentrics 22| may 50 be lowered to down position, so that wheel 19entirely clears all parts of the cam surface 18, and therefore nofurther jarring occurs.

The centrifugal action alone tends to separate out all low weightinclusions within the mass of the casting, but. this action is greatlyaccelerated by the jarring, particularly in so far asi gaseousinclusions are concerned, which are easilytrapped by the more or lessviscous metal as it begins to solidify, unless jarring occurs. Y

The combined centrifugal and `Iarring effects give ingots of remarkablesolidity and purity, and freedom from the usual inclusions and fissures,particularly after the internal cleaning off operations that I haveprovided for, for removal of 55 surface dross, brought to the inside ofingot by the centrifugal action.

Referring now to Figures 38, 38A, 38s, and 39 I have here shown analternative form of simplified casting unit in which rotation of theingot is not maintained except during the actual period ofsolidiflcation, or slightly beyond this point, so

as to include the hot-brushing operation, which is preferablyaccomplished while the. metal is extremely hot and soft, to someextent.l In this called for, except disposition, the ingot mould, assoon as 'convenient after solidiflcation of its burden, is picked upbodily from the wheel i', while still in rotation, by an appropriatetransfer-arm, (not shown), slowed down to zero rotational speed and itsenergy passed on to another mould which is being speeded up on oppositeend of the transier arm at the same time, the latter being 'then putinto the just vacated position in wheel i', while the slowed down mouldis deposited on vacated position in wheel to be described under Figure40, where subsequent operations are carried out without further rapidrotation. The above transfer arm is not described further in detailhere, being merely shown positionedat proper point in the later Figure42, to complete presentation.

With explanation, it is believed that no further description oi Figures3S, through 39, is that I have here shown one new part, the gas or othertype of heaters i227,

appropriately mounted by any convenient means, (not shown), at or closeto the mid-line of the successive step positions of wheel i', so as toretard the solidication of interior face of the l ingot as required, topromote solidincation on a. radially inward direction only, throughoutthe mass of the ingot.

Ii intend that such heating means may be applied to the early stepsafter the pouring in Figure l also, if so desired. In Figures 38 to 42,iinelusive, parts which. are very similar to, but not' identical with,those previously shown, will be identied by the same part numbers, butwith al prime added, to distinguish.

Referring now to Figures e and lil, substantially the only changes fromthe disclosure of Figures 1 to 4 inclusive, are those ci material reduction of over-ail diameter of the wheel ele ment i, (the i having beenalready appropriu ated for Figures 38 and 39), and the entireelimination of the rotating-disc element lil of the earlier guresmentioned, with all the propelling parts and tracks therefor, the singlestationary track i2, of Figure in, being replaced in Figures 40A and alby the two tracks l2', on which, in this case, the moulds 3 rolldirectly, as they slow-1 ly progress` around the successive stations ofWheel i".

Turning to Figure 42, the general mill assembly of my alternativecasting unit, and associated parts, is shown,- along with necessaryheatequ'alizing furnaces, and the mill proper, substantially the onlynew element shown, aside from minor track re-locations, as compared withFigure 34, being the two-stage casting unit previously mentioned,consisting of parts i' and i", and the special transfer-arm 228, notshown in detail on any of the drawings, but previously reierred to inthe text.

With the exception of operation changes introduced by the subndivisionof the original wheel i into the two parts i' and i", and the necessaryintroduction of the action of special transfer arm 228 just mentioned,the general functioning of all the elements of the entire assembly willbe substantially as before outlined in connection 'with Figure 34, andso need not be repeated.

In connection with the use of the ingot casting equipment of myinvention, certain very definite advantages accrue fromthe combinationof the centrifugal and the jarring actions, heretofore notcomblned in asingle machine. Every possible impro'vement in the quality and soundnessof the ot, leads directly to lowered scrap losses the and platerejections in the mill, which are of vital importance in cutting downthe conversion costs from ingot to sheet.

Since the large volumes of gases that are given oi from a solidlfyingingot, are not driven oi 5 from it instantaneously, but more or lessprogreslsively as the temperature falls and the metal ward a moreuniform metal in the ingot itself.

Other very definite advantages accrue from my provision forsolidiflcation on a radially-inward progressing single cylinder ofsolidi cation only, under the influence, in addition, of t e centrifugalaction, whereby internal piping is substantially eliminated, and anessentially solid ingot provided.

This action is assisted by internal heating of the ingot, to someextent, during the period of such solidiflcation.

Further very deilnlte advantages accrue from my provisions for cleaningoi or trimming of the interior wall of the ring-ingot while still veryhot, so as to be very easily operated upon.

Other advantages accrue from my provision of means whereby the "iarringaction may be carried out through an adjustable fraction of the 3 Wholefreezing operation, and with adjustable intensities at the successivesteps. y

Still further advantages accrue from the eliminatlonci the bloomingmill. by the production of relatively wide and thin cast ingots, whichmay 40 be entered immediately into v the final rolling mill.

@ther advantages accrue from the production of such thin availed ingotsthat substantially the whole exterior surface of said ingot will heclose to the rolls in the very iirst. pass through the mill, so thatlittle pulling apart" oi metal not close to the rolls, has to occur,breaking open the dendridic crystals here,

The thin walled ingot also allows less time dur- 5u ing solididcationfor the segregation of the different components of the metal. mixtureoriginally poured, so that greater than usual uniformity of compositionresults, throughout the mould. Yet other advantages accrue from mycombination for the irst time, of all the above advantages and others,in a commercial product, by the means described.

While I have shown a convenient apparatus for producing ring-ingots ofthe highly compacted type desired, other designs will be self-evident toanyone skilled in the art, and it will be understood that changes in theapparatus, or the operation of its parts, may be made without departingeither from@ spirit'of my invention, or 65 the scope of my broaderclaims.

What I claim is:

l. In a ring-ingot centrifugal casting system,

a rotatable mould, a power rotating means therefor, a molten-metalpouring means applicable to fill said mould as far as required, and a.mould jarring means applicable to said mould as required to Jar thecontained ingot concomitantly with the application of centrifugal forcethereto.

2. In a metal ingot centrifugal casting system, 76

